Commitments and contingencies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015 ClinicalMilestone Lawsuit
Commitments and contingencies [Abstract]
Potential future payments	$ 7.5
Number of clinical milestones	2cytr_NumberOfClinicalMilestones
Payments made on achievement of clinical milestones	2.0
Potential future milestone payments on each additional final marketing approval	1.0
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of shareholders lawsuits	3
Legal fees to be reimbursed by insurance carrier	8.6
Receivables carried to balance sheet	$ 5.1us-gaap_GrantsReceivableCurrent
Fishman v. Kriegsman [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of external investor and public relations firms unaffiliated with company	2
Silverberg v. Kriegsman [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of external investor and public relations firms unaffiliated with company	2
Pankratz v. Kriegsman [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of external investor and public relations firms unaffiliated with company	2
Taylor v. Kriegsman [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of external investor and public relations firms unaffiliated with company	2

The number of clinical milestones.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Refers to number of external investor and public relations firms unaffiliated with entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The payments made during the period on achievement of clinical milestones.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The potential future milestone payments on each additional final marketing approval as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	cytr_
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Period Type:	instant

- Details

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- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of amounts due under the terms of governmental, corporate, or foundation grants. For classified balance sheets, represents the current amount receivable, that is amounts expected to be collected within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.8)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 8

-Article 5

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount due in settlement of a claim for reimbursement from an insurance company when the Company has suffered a loss covered under an insurance policy. For classified balance sheets, represents the current amount receivable, that is amounts expected to be collected within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of pending claims pertaining to a loss contingency.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14435-108349

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The fair value, as of the date of each statement of financial position presented, of other assets which are owned but transferred to serve as collateral for the payment of the related debt obligation, and that are reclassified and separately reported in the statement of financial position because the transferee has the right by contract or custom to sell or re-pledge them.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 860

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6467456&loc=d3e113888-111728

+ Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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